Relay for Life of Baldwin held its kickoff celebration at The Irish Pub on Saturday. Above, Baldwin Relay for Life members gathered at the pub on March 21 to officially kickoff the relay season. At right, Irish Pub owner Shawn Sabel, who hosted the Baldwin Relay for Life kickoff, with New York State Sen. Siela Bynoe and Susan and Samantha Cools of The Cools Team. Story, more photos, Page 3.
By AllYSoN FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com
The Baldwin Public Library marked a major milestone in its ongoing transformation on March 2, when it opened its newly renovated second floor to the public — offering residents a first look at a reimagined space designed for collaboration, creativity and community use.
The unveiling was part of a larger, multi-phase renovation project that will continue through early 2027, modernizing the library while expanding its role beyond a traditional place for books.
Library Director
tional resources with new, flexible spaces.
“In the long term, the renovated library will be a draw for people in and to the community,” Olesh said. “The renovations are being guided by input from our diverse community.”
W hen people come to enjoy our new spaces, we will know that we are successful.
Elizabeth Olesh said the upgrades reflect a broader shift in how public libraries serve their communities. Over time, she said, they have evolved into what is often called a “third space” — not home or work, but somewhere people can gather, study, attend programs or simply spend time. The Baldwin facility’s redesign embraces that concept, blending tradi -
The renovated second floor now features a variety of additions aimed at meeting those needs, including a maker space, a recording studio and several small study rooms. The space is also designed to host programs and events, giving residents more opportunities to engage with the library in new ways.
ElIzABEth olESh Director, Baldwin Public Library
While books and research materials remain central to its mission, Olesh said the changes are intended to make the building a stronger draw for the community.
The design of the new space was shaped heavily by public input gathered over several years. Before the renovation bond vote in 2023, the library conducted surveys and hosted
Continued on page 14
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Nassau County officials traded their gavels for cooking utensils as they celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a charitable twist at the Annual Corned Beef CookOff for a Cause, raising funds for the Gabby Petito Foundation.
Held at The Milleridge Inn in Jericho, the festive event brought together local leaders, community members and supporters for a friendly culinary competition aimed at supporting victims of domestic and intimate partner violence. The cook-off featured classic Irish fare, with the aroma of corned beef and cabbage filling the venue as participants competed for bragging rights and a meaningful cause.
Elected officials taking part in the event included Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena, Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck and Long Beach City Councilman George Ennis. The event was hosted by Butch Yamali, owner and president of The Milleridge Inn.
A panel of judges evaluated the dishes, including Gabby Petito’s grandmother, Mary Wickman, along with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, County Clerk Maureen O’Connell, Hemp-
The participants of the 2026 Corned Beef Cook-Off for a Cause, held at the Milleridge Inn, included Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti, center, Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, left, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jen DeSena, second from left, Long Beach Councilman George Ennis, second from right, and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, right. The event raised money
stead Town Clerk Kate Murray and Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato. Participants prepared their signature St. Patrick’s Day dishes, bringing a taste of Irish tradition to the competition while
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helping to raise awareness and funding for the foundation’s mission.
“This event proves that the true treasure in life is helping others,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti. “The Gabby Petito Foundation is saving lives by raising awareness about domestic violence, and we are honored to support their efforts.”
“On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish, and this event captures the spirit of the holiday perfectly; great food, great community, and a great cause,” said County Executive Bruce Blakeman. “The Gabby Petito Foundation is doing extraordinary work helping people escape the dangers of intimate partner violence, and we are proud to support their mission while
cooking corned beef in the kitchen.”
Yamali said the event blends tradition with philanthropy.
“I love hosting this St. Patrick’s event because it embraces the Irish traditions that we all enjoy while raising funds for worthy causes such as the Gabby Petito Foundation,” he said. “I am eager to help our competitors with their recipes and I can’t wait to taste the St. Patrick’s culinary dishes.”
Officials emphasized that while the competition was lighthearted, the cause behind it remains serious.
“St. Patrick’s Day is all about community, generosity, and celebrating our shared heritage,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joe Saladino. “This cook-off lets us bring those traditions together while helping the Gabby Petito Foundation continue its important work supporting victims of violence.”
“As the saying goes, the Irish know how to turn a gathering into a celebration,” said Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck. “This event blends St. Patrick’s Day with a powerful mission—supporting the Gabby Petito Foundation and helping people break free from the cycle of violence.”
“While we competed for corned beef bragging rights,” said Long Beach City Councilman George Ennis, “the real goal is to shine a light on the important work of the Gabby Petito Foundation and help build safer communities for everyone.”
The Gabby Petito Foundation, named in memory of the Long Island native, focuses on raising awareness about domestic violence and providing resources to help individuals recognize warning signs, seek support and leave dangerous situations. Through education, outreach and advocacy, the organization works to prevent violence and empower victims.
Organizers said the cook-off continues to grow each year, reflecting both community enthusiasm and a shared commitment among local leaders to support those in need.
Eight Baldwin High School students traveled to Albany with Principal Neil Testa to participate in the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators’ 55th Annual Legislative Conference Youth Summit.
The students — juniors Lexie Ellis and Shayanne Resil; seniors Zion Henry, Morgan Jackson, Nicholas Perez and Mia Randazzo; and sophomore Adrian Suriel— attended through an opportunity extended by State Sen. Siela Bynoe’s office.
During the summit, students toured the State Capitol, visited the Senate chambers and met with Bynoe to discuss issues affecting the Baldwin community. The experience focused on strengthening civic engagement, leader-
ship and future-ready skills.
The “Leaving2Learn” experience aligned with the district’s Future Ready Competencies, emphasizing communication, collaboration and civic understanding.
“It was an incredible experience for our students to see government in action, and we’re thankful to Senator Bynoe for the opportunity,” Testa said. “Personally, it meant a lot to spend that time with such an outstanding group of students not just as their principal but sharing a really special experience together.”
Students left with a deeper understanding of the legislative process and inspiration to become active participants in their communities.
— Allyson Ferrari
By ALLYSON FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com
The Baldwin community came together March 21 for an evening of unity and purpose as Relay for Life of Baldwin hosted its annual kickoff celebration at The Irish Pub.
The gathering marked the official start of the 2026 Relay season, bringing out survivors, caregivers, volunteers and local leaders committed to supporting the American Cancer Society. The event blended moments of reflection with renewed energy, as teams began preparing fundraising efforts and outreach for the months ahead.
State and local officials, including Sen. Siela Bynoe and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, joined attendees to show their support and recognize the impact Relay for Life continues to have across the community. Their presence underscored the importance of advocacy and continued investment in cancer research and patient services.
The group collected donations of canned goods. The donations will be used to weigh down the luminaria bags during the Relay for Life event on June 13. According to Baldwin Relay’s Abby Melendez, the Luminaria Ceremony is one of the most powerful moments of every Relay for Life event, where the track is lined with dedicated luminaria bags in tribute to lost loved ones.
The night also paid tribute to longtime community figures who have helped shape Baldwin’s Relay for Life.
Joe Gillette was recognized for his lasting contributions, including his support of programs like Hope Lodge and Road to Recovery, which assist patients dur-
ing treatment.
Adding to the evening’s message, Geri Barish of Hewlett House spoke about survivorship and the power of storytelling in raising awareness and inspiring others.
Hosted by Irish Pub owner Shawn Sabel, the kickoff reflected Baldwin’s strong sense of community and dedication to giving back. As teams begin organizing and fundraising, organizers encouraged residents to get involved and continue supporting a cause that touches so many lives.
by Jeffrey Rosen (Part 2)
An Amityville man has been arrested and charged after police said he abused multiple special needs students while working as a school bus aide serving a school in the Uniondale school district that is located in Baldwin.
Devone Medlock, 37, was taken into custody at his home after an incident reported on Jan. 13 at about 3:30 p.m., Nassau police said.
Detectives said Medlock, who was employed by First Student bus company, became physically and verbally abusive toward several children on the bus. The students attend Grand Avenue School in Baldwin.
Police allege his actions included pushing, slamming, restraining and sit-
ting on the children.
Medlock is charged with six counts of assault, six counts of menacing and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Medlock pleaded not guilty at First District Court in Hempstead on March 21. Judge Norman A. Summut issued a temporary restraining order and he was released with no bail. Medlock is being represented by Paul Portz, Jr. and will next appear in court on April 2.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS.
An Oceanside woman accused in a wrong-way crash on the Southern State Parkway that killed a church pastor and his wife has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges on March 17, authorities said.
Diana Kutateladze, 36, was arraigned in Nassau County District Court and ordered held without bail in connection with the March 15 crash. She faces charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
According to newly filed felony complaints, Kutateladze admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash and registered a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent, above the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The crash occurred at around 10 p.m. on the west side of the parkway in Malverne. State police said Kutateladze was driving a 2020 Cadillac Escalade at 70
mph when she sideswiped another vehicle, lost control and crossed the center median into eastbound traffic.
Her vehicle struck multiple cars before colliding head-on with a 2016 Toyota Highlander near Exit 17S, authorities said.
Two passengers in the Highlander — Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent Maxwell, 88, both of Westbury — were pronounced dead at the scene.
In total, six vehicles and 10 people were involved in the crash. Several other individuals were takento area hospitals with injuries described by authorities as non-life-threatening.
The crash prompted authorities to shut down the parkway between Exits 15 and 17 for seven hours overnight as investigators processed the scene and crews cleared debris.
The investigation is continuing.
— Abigail Grieco
Hundreds of Catholics are expected to gather at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury on Good Friday, April 3, for the annual outdoor walking of the Stations of the Cross, marking one of the most solemn observances of the Christian calendar during the 2026 Lenten season.
“This walking service provides a powerful space for our community to come together in prayer and reflection during Holy Week,” said Richard Bie, president and chief executive of Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island. “As participants journey through the Stations of the Cross, they walk in the footsteps of Christ and deepen their connection to this sacred tradition that has sustained the faithful for centuries.”
The 1.5-mile prayer service will guide participants through 14 stations depicting the Passion of Christ, from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate through the crucifixion to his entombment. Each station at the cemetery is marked by a cross or sculpture featuring carved images that illustrate these sacred events.
Deacons from Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island will lead the service, helping attendees engage in this Holy Week tradition. The Cemetery of the Holy Rood is one of four cemeteries operated by Catholic Cemeteries of Long Island.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and represents a cornerstone of the Catholic faith and the culmination of Holy Week. For Catholics worldwide, the day is observed with prayer, fasting and reflection on Christ’s sacrifice.
As part of Holy Week, the days leading up to Easter Sunday are observed with special solemnity as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. The outdoor walking service offers an opportunity for the faithful from across Long Island to gather in prayer and reflection during this sacred time.
For more information about the Stations of the Cross service and upcoming Masses and events, visit CCLongIsland.org.
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
A Hofstra softball program with a storied history reaching 18 NCAA Tournaments added a coaching legend last year looking to raise more banners.
The Pride appointed Susan CassidyLyke as Hofstra’s new head softball coach in July after 21 years leading the diamond at Molloy University softball where she guided the Lions to three Division II National Championship Tournament appearances.
“I was born and raised on Long Island so I am very familiar with the championship tradition here at Hofstra,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “This is a good experience for me and a good challenge.”
Cassidy-Lyke inherited a Hofstra team that returned 13 players from a 2025 team that went 22-28 and fell in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals. Hofstra was picked to finish in a tie for first in the CAA North Division with Stony Brook.
Hofstra boasts two preseason All CAA players in senior pitcher Emma Falen and senior shortstop Alanna Morse, a local product out of Mepham High School.
Morse is coming off a 2025 season in which she led the team in hitting with a .343 batting average with 49 hits in 143 at bats. She is off to another strong start during her final season in a Hofstra uniform as a leadoff hitter batting .365 through 25 games with three home runs to lead the team in both categories.
“She is very talented offensively and defensively and just a great kid that seems to do the right thing all the time,” said Cassidy-Lyke of Morse. “She leads by example.”
Falen recorded a 12-10 record with a 3.14 ERA last season after transferring from UC-Riverside. The Folson, Calif. native recorded seven strikeouts in a 2-1 win against Stony Brook on March 7.
Freshman Madison Steppe has emerged as the ace of the Pride pitching staff this season following a standout career at Monticello High School in
Charlottesville, Va. Steppe recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in an 8-5 victory against Buffalo on Feb. 28 in Harrisonburg, Va.
The Hofstra lineup has plenty of balance early in the season with five hitters batting over .290 in Morse, junior third baseman Gabby Sultan, sophomore catcher Gemma D’Orazio and junior second baseman Nicole Cansel. Junior right fielder Lily Yepez, a former Mepham teammate of Morse, has caught fire offensively with a .455 average in 44 at bats after missing the start of the season due to injury.
“She is another homegrown talent and it’s definitely a staple for us,” said Cassidy-Lyke of Yepez. “She really does a lot of different things out of the bottom of the lineup hitting for power, as a slap hitter and can bunt with some good speed.”
Hofstra entered the week at 12-13 overall and 8-1 in CAA play after a sweep at Hampton. The Pride have played the early portion of its home schedule at Farmingdale State due the harsh winter
weather, but are slated to return to Bill Edwards Stadium for a three-game series against Campnell on April 10-12. The regular season concludes with three games against Monmouth at Bill Edwards Stadium from April 30 to May 2.
The six-team CAA Tournament commences from May 6 to May 9 with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Pride can
qualify for the double elimination CAA playoffs by placing in the top four in the North Division or one of two wildcard teams.
“They’ve come a long way since the beginning of the year and we have faith they can do it,” Casidy-Lyke said. “It’s really just going to be about consistency and not letting the game get bigger than it is.”
These two moms opened a spa. It had one big, on the community.
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
Nini Camps was a solo singer-songwriter in New York City when Kristen Henderson, the bassist for the all-female rock band Antigone Rising, asked her to get together to write music in 2009. The band soon got an offer to open for Joan Jett, and invited Camps to be a vocalist. The opportunity launched more than a decade of performances, and nonprofit work, with Camps as Antigone Rising’s lead singer.
The band was formed in 1993 by sisters Cathy and Kristen Henderson, now Kristen Ellis-Henderson. Several members have joined and left over the years. After Camps joined the Hendersons, Antigone Rising quickly made a record and resumed playing shows after a hiatus.
“It just felt like a good fit,” Camps said. “We had so much fun.”
Camps, 54, has lived in Sea Cliff for roughly 15 years with her wife, Brooke. She said that she enjoys Sea Cliff’s thriving music scene.
Before the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, Antigone Rising band was busy making music, touring and creating a nonprofit, Girl Rising. After the pandemic lockdowns eased, the group continued to play together on a smaller scale.
Girls Rising launched in 2014, after the band was invited by the U.S. State Department to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territory. There Antigone Rising worked in schools and community centers, playing music and talking to students and educators about their creative and musical process.
The trip, Camps explained, helped inspire them to
create the nonprofit. “We were an all-female band, and our crew that we took with us was female, and it was an anomaly,” she said. “… They were like, ‘We’ve never seen this. This is unusual.’ And we realized that as we went along, this was something that we faced a lot, even in the States.”
After returning to the United States, Antigone Rising began visiting LGBTQ centers, community centers and schools as they toured. Camps said the band got so many requests for these visits that they essentially became part of their tours and even events around which they based their schedule.
Girls Rising’s mission is to inspire young girls and LGBTQ youth to pursue nontraditional career paths and encourage all children to think, act and be themselves. Through performances, presentations and workshops, the band carried out the mission for nearly a decade, though it is now in what Camps described as a “pause.” “Things need a chance to sometimes rest and breathe” after operating for so long, she said.
Antigone Rising hosted the Girls Rising Music Festival annually for roughly eight years, first at Sea Cliff Beach and then at Glen Cove’s Morgan Park. It featured female artists, both seasoned musicians and younger ones just starting out.
“We were in a place where we were kind of in the middle,” Camps said, “where we were able to reach out to women who were real game-changers and real trailblazers ahead of us, who are very successful, and we were able to sort of hand that down to young women who were just making their way.”
As part of each year’s festival, the band recognized
women making a difference — who “showed up” — with a Game Changer Award. The band received donations and grants from artists like Joan Jett and Melissa Ethelridge. With that money, Antigone Rising was able to provide instruments and music education in Glen Cove, and help support young women pursuing music education.
Camps said that the band isn’t currently seeking gigs, but will take one if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, she is working on a solo album, her first since she joined the group.
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Not all scientists begin their careers in labs — some start in the shadow of dinosaurs. For Ray Ann Havasy, 63, of Port Washington, that early fascination led to a career defined by academic achievement, creative outreach and global science engagement.
With degrees in zoology, education and biology, and a doctorate in science education from Columbia University in 1998, Havasy built a foundation that combines rigorous scholarship with a passion for making science accessible.
She began her career in education, teaching science at East Meadow High School and Schreiber High School, in Port Washington, and later at the New York Institute of Technology’s School of Education.
Her interest in dinosaurs led to work with the Dinosaur Society and, in the early 1990s, as a technical adviser on “Jurassic Park,” helping guide how dinosaurs were portrayed while balancing scientific accuracy with cinematic storytelling. She partnered in the development of the touring “Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park” exhibit. Blending film props with real fossils and scientific content, the exhibit toured internationally for nearly eight years beginning around 1993, drawing crowds across the United States and in cities in Europe and the Netherlands. What stood out most, Havasy said, was the universal reaction: Children everywhere were captivated.
“The exhibit was amazing — I went all around the world with it,” she said. “That was a great experience,
Courtesy Ray Ann Havasy
Ray Ann Havasy, founder and director of the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, in Rockville Centre, has built a multifaceted career focused on education.
also seeing that dinosaurs and science are universal.”
The exhibit also supported paleontological research worldwide, turning public interest into funding for scientific discovery — reinforcing her belief that handson experiences can spark lifelong curiosity.
That philosophy led her to Rockville Centre, where she founded the Center for Science Teaching & Learning in the Tanglewood Preserve in 2000. What began as a teacher-training initiative has grown into a hub for interactive, family-focused learning.
“A lot of museums are ‘look but don’t touch,’” Havasy said. “We’re the exact opposite. Our whole mission is to encourage people to learn about science and like science, because a lot of us went through school thinking science was hard and yucky.”
Today she continues to promote hands-on learning while encouraging more young women to pursue science with animals, nature and interactive experiences for fun learning.
“I wasn’t doing it for accolades,” she said. “I was doing it because these opportunities are exciting.”
Michele Anselmo, a teacher and an educator at the center, has worked with Havasy for over 15 years, on several innovative projects. “Ray Ann’s knowledge of science and education provides a wonderful support system for me and the other educators here,” Anselmo said.
Through her work, Havasy hopes to create a future in which more girls see science as a natural and attainable path. “I think it’s important that we find a way to encourage women to get involved in science,” she said. “I speak a lot to young women about encouraging them to be more attuned to being involved in science, and that would be a dream of mine, to have kids — young women — understand that science, engineering and math is for them, and is something that the world wants them to do.”
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
For Dr. Jacqueline Marecheau, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Women’s History Month is more than a celebration: It is a call to confront one of the nation’s most urgent and persistent health crises.
Marecheau has spent her career delivering babies and caring for mothers, working on the front lines of maternal health in underserved communities. She has been at Episcopal Health Services for six years, and her work is rooted in community health, equity and supporting the teams who care for women and families every day.
Marecheau earned an undergraduate degree in biomedical education from the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education (now the CUNY Medical School) and a medical degree from the SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn.
U.S. continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations, with Black women facing the greatest risks.
Between 2018 and 2021, Black women were three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to federal health data. Marecheau emphasized that these disparities are rooted not in biology, but in systemic inequities including gaps in care, delayed diagnoses, implicit bias and lack of access to resources.
“I went through my third year of medical school rotations and I fell in love with OB/GYN,” she said. “I realized that I was drawn to women’s health because it interested me in medicine and advocacy. OB/GYN is a field where you can see direct results of action and education, and that’s always been meaningful to me.”
Marecheau’s experience underscores a troubling reality: Maternal health risks in the United States remain alarmingly high. About 22 women per 100,000 die from childbirth-related causes each year, and roughly 50,000 experience severe complications. The
If you’ve
At EHS, which serves the diverse and historically underserved Rockaway peninsula, Marecheau sees these challenges play out daily. The community has long faced barriers to high-quality care, but, she said, the hospital is working to change that narrative.
“I love improving access to pre-natal care, helping women navigate complex health decisions,” she said, “and knowing I can create a safer and healthier outcome for women who haven’t always historically been prioritized brings me immense joy.”
In August 2025, St. John’s opened a new state-of-the-art labor and delivery suite, restoring comprehensive maternity services to the area. The facility features private suites and emphasizes patientcentered care.
Marecheau has championed programs including doula support services, postpartum care initiatives and the Centering Pregnancy model, which combines prenatal visits with group education to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Tim Baker/Herald
Dr. Jacqueline Marecheau is the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, which serves the diverse Rockaway peninsula.
“My focus these days is making sure services are equitable and culturally responsive,” she said.
Hospital staff have received additional training to better recognize early signs of complications, and systems have been implemented to ensure that patients receive follow-up care after they’re discharged, a critical period when many maternal deaths occur.
“No woman should feel that her pain is ignored or her concerns are dismissed,” Marecheau said.
By ABBEY SALVEMINI asalvemini@liherald.com
For Cynthia Seibold, recognizing the achievements and resilience of women is deeply personal. Raised by a single working mother, she saw firsthand the strength, determination and perseverance it takes to overcome challenges. Today she carries that legacy forward, and takes pride in inspiring strong, capable and resilient women herself.
Seibold’s path to founding Balloon Mission was unconventional. After earning a master’s degree in secondary education, she spent 20 years in the insurance industry, analyzing risk and researching hazards for organizations including the NBA and the NHL. “My mission at that job was to protect people from harm and save money,” she said. The role sharpened her research and problem-solving skills — which would later inspire her environmental advocacy.
The pandemic was a turning point. The health scare forced reflection. “It showed me how precious and fragile life is,” Seibold, 57, said. “Whatever days are left, I want to give back in some way.”
A lifelong Long Islander, she found peace by the ocean, but noticed balloon debris piling up on local beaches. While volunteering at cleanups, she researched the environmental impact of balloon releases. She was stunned by the volume of data on their harm to wildlife, waterways and ecosystems worldwide, with little accountability.
filled with “soul-crushing” moments and fears of being laughed at for “chasing balloons.”
What began with collection bins in three schools and one library has grown into a regional and national effort. In three years, Balloon Mission has collected more than 65,000 post-event balloons.
Seibold says that collaborative partnerships with strong, inspiring women helped make the initiative possible. “I would not be me without these partners,” she said, citing Allison DePerte, of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and Maureen Early, of the waste-management company Reworld.
She also praises Tara Moran-Schneider, senior conservation biologist with the Town of Hempstead’s Department of Conservation and Waterways, for installing 20 “No Balloon Release” signs in local parks and on beaches.
“We’ve become the experts in the room through research and data collection,” Seibold said — not because of advanced degrees, but thanks to research, partnerships and persistence.
Women have guided her journey. “It’s vital for young girls to see female leaders in all roles,” she said. “Leading by example shows that positive change is possible. There is no age limit.” Since Balloon Mission started, she has worked with Girl Scout troops, educating communities about responsible balloon practices by expanding “No Release” signs across Long Island.
So she launched Balloon Mission, the first balloon collection-recycling infrastructure in the United States. “Here I am, an ordinary citizen stepping up,” she said. “Not certified in anything, but I did know how to research.” The early days were challenging,
In March 2022, a New York Times article on the surging popularity of balloon decor was published on her late mother’s birthday, and Seibold took that as a sign. “The idea of a solution would not leave me alone,” she said of the problem of balloon waste. “If not me, who was going to do it?”
Seibold’s message to women with a passion for change is simple: “If you have an idea or solution that has latched onto you and won’t shake free, that wakes you up in the middle of the night,” she said, “you have to pursue it.”
By ALLYSON FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com
The Baldwin Public Library recently welcomed community members for a hands-on adult baking class that blended creativity, technique and a touch of springtime fun.
Led by Kristyn and Patty Weiser, owners of Fanny Cakes, a Nesconset based bakery that specializes in custom cakes and deserts, the library workshop focused on decorating seasonal “Bird in a Nest” sugar cookies. Participants of all skill levels gathered around tables filled with icing, tools and freshly baked cookies, eager to learn new techniques and put their own artistic spin on the designs.
Weiser guided attendees step by step, demonstrating how to properly handle icing, build texture and add fine details without smudging delicate designs during the workshop on March 19. The class offered a relaxed and supportive environment, allowing participants to practice at their own pace while picking up tips from both the instructors and one another.
For many, the class was as much about connection as it was about baking. Friends spent the evening catching up while decorating, continuing or cre-
ating a tradition of getting together to create seasonal treats while taking part in community events at the newly renovated library. Participants shared laughs and ideas as their cookies came to life in a variety of colors and styles.
The event drew a mix of familiar faces and newcomers to the library’s Makerspace room, which was opened to the public on March 2. By the end of the session, each participant left with a box of uniquely dec-
orated cookies and a new set of skills to take home. More importantly, the class fostered a sense of community, highlighting the library’s role as a welcoming space for learning, creativity and shared experiences.
By Chris ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com
The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Division reached an important decision in favor of homeowners last month. The court strengthened residents’ abilities to provide supportive evidence and documentation when challenging their yearly property tax assessments.
The appeal reversed a Nassau County Supreme Court case that had previously complicated the process for homeowners submitting documents, including assessments of comparable properties and completed sales of similar homes, when filing an “unequal assessment claim” during Small Claims Assessment Review proceedings. The appellate verdict went into effect immediately, and applies to the current assessment year, 2027-28.
“This is a very significant case,” said Shalom Maidenbaum, founder of Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group and Maidenbaum and Sternberg, the law firm that brought the case to court. “It could’ve impacted all of Nassau County and curtailed the rights of taxpayers.” The decision affects any Nassau homeowner filing an assessment grievance, and is especially beneficial to residents of certain villages who may have been assessed at an inaccurate or outdated assessment ratio.
In the final order of the matter of Yeung v. Assessor of the Village of Great Neck Estates — the initial case presented to the appellate court — the court wrote in its conclusion, “The hearing officer’s determinations denying the petitioners’ Small Claims Assessment Review applications were arbitrary and
Tim Baker/Herald
“This is a very significant case,” Shalom Maidenbaum said. “It could’ve impacted all of Nassau County and curtailed the rights of taxpayers.”
capricious and lacked a rational basis in the law.”
Mark Miller, one of the most experienced lawyers on the Maidenbaum team, explained that multiple lowercourt decisions throughout Nassau County can now
be clarified, since some hearing officers had been inconsistently applying existing laws to homeowners’ ability to present evidence. “Hundreds of cases can now go back to court,” Miller said. “This decision gives them standing.”
The appellate court’s decision is expected to remain in effect without further challenge. Legal experts say that it would require costly, involved legislation to overturn it.
While the legal victory provides homeowners with invaluable support, experts say they should not misinterpret the ruling as a guarantee that their assessments will be reduced. “They just have the right to present that evidence,” explained Amy Madmon, a partner at both Maidenbaum and Sternberg and Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, explained. “Essentially, it’s confirming the tools that homeowners have. Whether it’s successful or not depends on the case, but a hearing officer does have to hear the argument and take it into account when they’re making a decision.”
The deadline to file a property tax assessment grievance in Nassau County is March 31. There’s no risk for homeowners — an unsuccessful appeal results in no penalties and no increased assessment. There’s also no inherent expense: Homeowners can either submit a grievance at no cost on their own, or hire a property tax grievance firm, such as Maidenbaum, which typically charges no fees if the appeal is unsuccessful, and charges a percentage of the amount of the reduction, often up to 50 percent, for a successful appeal.
More information about filing a grievance, including applications and steps to file, can be found at nassaucountyny.gov/arc/arow.
By ROSKANA AMID, JEFFREY BESSEN & CAROLYN JAMES of the Herald
Against a backdrop of a military action in the Middle East and a domestic economy that swings up and down as the price of oil steadily rises, Long Island’s congressional delegation took part in a spirited but congenial debate of ideas and issues last week at the Long Island Association’s annual What’s New In Washington panel.
Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Laura Gillen, Nick LaLota and Tom Suozzi spoke on issues ranging from the economy to immigration to energy, with LIA Acting President and CEO Stacey Sikes moderating the March 16 discussion.
“The thing that’s so brilliant about the system, I think, is today we’re going to have [four] Congressional representatives —two Democrats, two Republicans,” Lawrence Waldman, the LIA’s board chairman, said. “They’re going to sit in the interview with Acting President Stacey Sikes, and I’m sure they’ll agree on some of these issues and disagree on some.”
Andrew Garbarino
All of the legislators noted progress on the effort to raise or eliminate the limit on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes, a measure critical to Long Island homeowners facing some of the nation’s highest property taxes, as well as a $1.5 billion infrastructure package for transportation, water quality and storm resilience.
“We have worked together on a bipar-
tisan infrastructure bill, one of the best things we did,” Garbarino, a former assemblyman, said, noting frustrations with Albany over implementation.
His 2nd Congressional District stretches from Massapequa, in Nassau County, east to Shirley, in Suffolk County.
The four lawmakers had differing perspectives on Operation Epic Fury, the military effort against Iran. Suozzi and Gillen praised its objectives, but criticized Congress’s lack of oversight and what they described as the Trump administration’s failure to define a long-term strategy.
“There does not seem to be a plan, and shouldn’t that have been thought of ahead of time?” Suozzi asked.
the finish line, by working together.”
Gillen, who represents the 4th Congressional District, which spans nearly the entire South Shore of Nassau County, noted that the administration’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” has added to the national debt. “It caused the average American to have $1,600 in extra cost,” she said. “We’re not going in the right direction. We can fix that, but there has to be political will.”
I ’m sure they’ll agree on some of these issues and disagree on some.
L
Gillen noted the impact of the federal crackdown on illegal immigration on local businesses.
that same part of the world,” he noted, jobs will be created and prices will be lower.
LaLota’s 1st Congressional District stretches from Melville, in western Suffolk County, to Montauk.
Tom Suozzi
Suozzi highlighted his work with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. The group includes 46 members of Congress, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
“We have committees that work together on issues, on everything from affordability,” Suozzi said, noting that the caucus also addresses immigration and national security.
Garbarino countered, noting that congressional committees are briefed regularly, and that prior administrations have taken similar actions. All agreed that any escalation involving ground troops would require Congressional approval.
Laura Gillen
AwRENCE wALDMAN
Board
chairman, Long Island Association
Nick LaLota
“People are afraid to patronize businesses,” she said, adding that new business in Hempstead is “going to go out of business already, because people — there’s an ICE car parked in an apartment lot across from Main Street, and even if no one’s in there, people see it, and they’re afraid to go out.”
Despite those efforts, Suozzi described Washington as increasingly difficult to navigate. “The problem is, the environment is so toxic in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “And the leadership on both sides really is only focused on winning the majority.” He added that the political climate is likely to worsen as the midterm elections approach.
Speaking on her proposed Dignity Act, which would give illegal immigrants what she called “a pathway to legal status,” Gillen said, “If you’re going to do transformative legislation, it’s better to tap in with both sides,” noting that the effort began with 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. “And that’s the way we can get a law like this across
LaLota said that one party doesn’t have a monopoly on “this nation’s most major issues, and we do work together on certain big things.”
With the cost of energy on the minds of consumers, he noted that “the economy is growing, we have more demand, more power here on the Island and across the nation.” LaLota added that there’s “a ton of natural gas” in New York’s Southern Tier. “If we do things the way that Pennsylvania does them in
Suozzi also pointed to several economic concerns facing many Americans, including tariffs, artificial intelligence data centers, and rising health care costs tied in part to the elimination of the premium tax credit.
“The economy is in trouble,” he said. “Everybody knows the economy is in trouble.” He argued that strong stock market performance does not reflect the experience of most households.
His 3rd Congressional District predominantly includes Glen Cove, Oyster Bay and a portion of Queens, and stretches east to Huntington.
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
High school students from across Long Island gathered at Hofstra University for ERASE Racism’s 2026 Long Island Leaders of Tomorrow Conference, a daylong event focused on leadership, dialogue and social change.
ERASE Racism, a Long Island-based civil rights organization, hosted the conference as part of its broader mission to address structural racism, particularly in public education and housing.
The conference brought together students from Nassau and Suffolk counties on March 18 to take part in interactive workshops and discussions aimed at building connections across school districts and communities. Students from more than a dozen districts — including Baldwin, Bellmore-Merrick, Glen Cove, Hewlett-Woodmere, Long Beach, Malverne and Valley Stream — took part. Organizers said the goal was to equip students with practical tools they could bring back to their schools and communities.
Melissa Berman/Herald
High school students from across Long Island participated in interactive workshops and discussions at ERASE Racism’s Leaders of Tomorrow Conference on March 18.
“Long Island is the 10th most segregated metro region, even according to the 2020 census,” Nicole Grennan, program associate for ERASE Racism, said. “We have this long history of structural racism even in the form of racial covenants and red-lining that was happening in the region. As a result, our schools are very segregated.”
Participants engaged in sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills while exploring issues related to race, equity and opportunity. The program emphasized collaboration among students from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, encouraging them to share experiences and develop strategies for creating more inclusive school environments.
“It was really important to us, as a civil rights organization, to connect students across their racially and socioeco-
nomically segregated lines,” Grennan said. “We believe it’s important that students interact with students who don’t look like them and have an understanding of what’s going on in Long Island and their surrounding communities.”
By connecting young people from different regions of Long Island, the event aimed to foster understanding and empower a new generation of leaders committed to equity and civic engagement.
“Part of the reason why I wanted to bring our students here is because I have
a social justice lens, and I wanted the students to not only hear the language, but see what’s going on in neighboring communities so they can collaborate together,” Betyne Farrell, a school psychologist at Baldwin High School, said.
Anissah Brown, a member of ERASE Racism and a junior at Calhoun High School in Merrick, said it was inspiring for her to attend, and to both educate and learn from her peers. “I get to inspire others to be more involved in their community, and attack racism at hand when they see it,” Brown said.
She said that coming into the conference, she expected unity and knowledge. “What I didn’t expect was the amount of ignorance that is still among my peers today,” she added. “A lot of stuff that people don’t know, stuff that people brush off as normal, and a lot of normalization of racial slurs and racism in general in their schools.”
Long Beach High’s dean of students, Phil Bruno, said he has noticed that, globally, those of the same religions and races have tension within their own communities.
“Long Beach itself is a very mixed community, and we represent a lot of different parts of the world,” Bruno said. “We’re trying to give a voice to these young people so that they feel comfortable to have these conversations with people in public, and build that type of character in our children.”
focus groups to better understand what residents wanted — not just for the second floor, but for the entire building. That feedback helped guide decisions about how to use the space and what amenities to include, ensuring that the final design would reflect the needs of Baldwin’s diverse population.
The March 2 opening concluded just one phase of the project. Work will continue in stages throughout the building in the coming months. Next, renovations will focus on the Reference Room and surrounding areas, and then move into the Children’s Room and Circulation. Plans also call for transforming space near the library’s older Community Room into a new Community Services wing, and further expanding programming and support.
The entire project is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2027, according to Olesh.
In addition to the visible upgrades, there will be significant improvements to the building’s infrastructure. The HVAC system and boilers have been replaced, and energy-conscious features have been incorporated throughout the project. The second floor now has LED lighting and high-grade insulation. Water bottle filling stations have been added as well.
Accessibility has been another key focus of the renovation. The library meets all required standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project introduced a “companion restroom” on the second floor — an extra-large, private restroom designed to accommodate those who need assistance.
Additional accessibility features include
Braille signage, captioned movie showings and access to Braille and talking books through a federally supported program administered locally by the New York Public Library.
Library officials noted that the building now offers a range of environments to meet different needs, from quieter areas for reading and studying to more active zones for collaboration and programming.
Despite the scale of the renovation, the library has remained open throughout construction — a decision that required careful planning. Contractors have typically scheduled work during early hours to minimize noise, though some disruption has been unavoidable. Areas under construction have been temporarily closed off, allowing the library to continue providing services without relocating to a smaller, temporary space.
Olesh said the community’s patience during the process has been critical to the work’s progress. For her, success will ultimately be measured not just by the completion of construction, but by how the community uses the space.
“When people come to enjoy our new spaces, we will know that we are successful,” she said, adding that one longstanding goal remains to have every Baldwin resident hold, and use, a library card.
While the second floor has already opened with what officials described as a “soft launch,” a larger celebration is planned once the entire project is complete. Until then, residents can begin exploring the new space — the first step in what library leaders hope will be a lasting transformation of one of Baldwin’s central community institutions.
section, board games, display areas, booth and table seating, and a calming corner for relaxation and quiet time.
By Tara Jones
Off the coast of Long Island, a new chapter in the region’s energy future is already spinning.
The South Fork Wind project — the first utility-scale offshore wind farm serving New York — is now delivering electricity to the East End, demonstrating that offshore wind is no longer theoretical. It’s operating infrastructure.
The project represents more than a milestone. For energy planners and policymakers, it is proof that offshore wind can play a critical role in solving one of the biggest challenges facing downstate New York: how to replace aging power plants while meeting growing electricity demand and keeping costs low for customers.
According to an Aurora Energy Research study, they found that offshore wind generation could have saved New York ratepayers about $77 million during a single winter month. Because the price of the
energy that the wind farms produce are set at a single, stable rate for 25 to 30 years, there is no cost for the “fuel”.
Carrie Meek Gallagher, CEO of LIPA, also highlighted how South Fork Wind delivers particularly strong energy generation during the colder months, which means that when demand spikes, offshore wind can meet the demand when it is needed most.
John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, said clean energy investment is creating opportunities that extend far beyond the construction phase.
Offshore wind projects require a highly trained workforce — from electricians and ironworkers to marine crews and engineers — and unions have been preparing workers through apprenticeship programs
that can take years to complete.
In turn, those good-paying union jobs and careers support families and help keep spending local.
The takeaway on offshore wind Long Island no longer has to debate offshore wind in the abstract, supporters say. It is already here and generating power, proving that cleaner energy, affordable energy, and local economic growth can go hand in hand.
As Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, pointed out, South Fork Wind coming online has also dispelled many of the environmental concerns around offshore wind.
‘Peppa
By Abbey Salvemini
Oink if you love Mozart! The world’s most famous piggy is trading muddy puddles for the conductor’s baton. “Peppa Pig –
My First Concert” is headed to Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, on Saturday, March 28, offering families a vibrant, interactive introduction to the world of classical music.
Joined by Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and George, Peppa leads young audiences through playful romp designed to give toddlers and preschoolers their very first taste of an orchestra — in this case, the Aurora Orchestra. By blending catchy hits from the popular TV series with masterpieces by Mozart and Beethoven, the production creates a bridge between playground favorites and the concert hall. At just 60 minutes long, it’s a perfectly sized musical adventure for “little piggies” as young as 18 months.
Families explore how different instruments create sound in this playful production giving the little ones their first taste of classical music in an engaging setting. From the first notes of the Peppa Pig theme to the soaring strings of the masters, the production invites families to see how an orchestra actually works. Peppa and her brother George learn alongside their audience, discovering the distinct sounds and shapes of the instruments as the music comes to life. It’s an engaging, front-row seat to the wonders of the woodwind, brass and string families.
“This is really an interactive introduction to a live orchestra for very young audiences,” says Stephanie Turner, Tilles Center’s director of education and outreach.
This is a ‘first concert’ in the truest sense — approachable, loud and full of life. Stripping away the formality of a standard concert hall, the production encourages little ones to respond to the music however they feel moved. Children are welcome to participate throughout — whether that means clapping along, dancing in the aisles or simply reacting to the music.
“Anything they want to do,” Turner says. “When kids hear familiar music, they love to get up and dance. Whatever movement or sound kids want to make is totally open.”
The production also introduces a fresh face to the Peppa-verse: Lucy. Played by Evie James, this specially created character serves as the show’s lively narrator, helping children navigate their very first symphonic experience, while interacting with Peppa and her friends.
The show blends puppetry, live music and audience participation, featuring four puppeteers and 12 musicians performing alongside Lucy and the Peppa Pig family. James eplains that the production offers young audiences a whimsical introduction to live theater and classical music through the adventures of Peppa and her family.
“The kids respond to it so well,” she says. “It’s a really sweet and fun show with an educational element.”
Continuing the Tilles Center’s commitment to inclusive programming, this program — part of its “Family Fun!” series — it’s done as a relaxed performance. The atmosphere is intentionally crafted to be welcoming and accommodating, providing a supportive space for neurodivergent audiences to enjoy the arts together.
“These performances feature modified sound and lighting levels,” Turner explains. “There’s also a quiet space with sensory toys if a child gets overwhelmed.”
Families can check out a ‘social story’ before the big day. This visual guide uses photos and simple descriptions to walk children through the entire theater experience, turning the ‘unknown’ into a familiar and exciting adventure. Everyone is also welcome to a free family workshop prior to showtime (for ticket holders), with crafts, games and storytime.
• Saturday, March 28, 2 p.m.
• Tickets start at $39, VIP tickets are $79.50; available at ticketmaster.com
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
“Our goal is to provide the arts to the greater Long Island population,” Turner adds. “Through the Family Fun series, we bring shows like Peppa Pig, along with productions featuring characters like Curious George and ‘Sesame Street, so families can experience live performances together.”
Of course, for many children in the audience, Peppa Pig will be their first live performance.
“It’s age-appropriate, gentle and welcoming,” Turner continues. “You can come at any age or level and enjoy it. Even adults who’ve never been exposed to classical music can learn something.”
For James, the true magic happens after the curtain falls. Her goal is simple: to send the kids home feeling delighted with what’s transpired on stage.
“I hope they just have a fun time,” she says. “Maybe it will inspire them to listen to music, play an instrument themselves or develop an interest in theater.”
Little theatergoers follow along as Peppa and George
the magic of live music together at Tilles Center.
Isaac Mizrahi
Actor-host-writer-fashion designerproducer, performer extraordinaire Isaac Mizrahi is a truly unique talent. He regales his fans — and those just experiencing him for a first time — with song and his signature wit when he appears at Tilles Center. His one-of-a-kind show brings together comedy, commentar and an array of classic and soon-to-be classic songs from Stephen Sondheim to Blondie, Comden & Green to Madonna. He’s worked extensively in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. Most recently seen as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago,” he heads here after his annual (triumphant) residency at Café Carlyle in Manhattan. Isaac also performs at such venues as Joe’s Pub and nationwide. Among his many credits, he’s the subject and co-creator of “Unzipped,” a documentary following the making of his Fall 1994 collection which received an award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Saturday, March 28, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
With his strikingly similar looks, baritone voic and spot-on mannerisms, Shawn Barker’s uncanny resemblance to the original “Man In Black” revitalizes the true character and spirit of Cash himself, for a one-of-a-kind show. In character throughout the entire evening, he takes the audience through each era of Cash’s life and music, including hits like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and “Ring of Fire,” backed by a full band. Born and raised in a working-class suburb of St. Louis, Barker took a schoolboy love for singing in church with his family and turned it into a career. The path to his current success wasn’t a straight line from gospel choir to Johnny Cash tribute act. After serving his country in the Army, Barker returned home to Missouri, took a job as a carpenter, and spent all of his free time learning how to play the guitar. His act then quickly turned from hobby to profession.
Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at
Baldwin Lion’s Club meets The Baldwin Lions holds its general monthly meeting at Baldwin Public Library. Members gather to discuss upcoming service projects, community initiatives and club business.
• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: e-clubhouse. org/sites/baldwinny/ or baldwinlionsclub@gmail.com
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’
Adelphi University Department of Theatre students give a concert performance of the beloved classic. With charm, wit and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and their friends in the Peanuts gang. This revue of songs and vignettes, based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, showcases Adelphi’s talented students. Musical numbers include “My New Philosophy,” “The Book Report,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime” and “Happiness.”
• Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or (516) 877-4000
• Where: Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
with language for what they’ve been experiencing, insight into navigating change with more clarity, and a renewed sense of direction for the season ahead. The afternoon includes light hors d’oeuvres, time for connection, and a book signing with photo opportunities. Each attendee receives a signed copy of the book.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
Let’s Meet And Network On Long Island
Join in this community business networking dinner. Share advice, grow your business network, and enjoy a casual evening. Free and fun. Separate checks. RSVP needed.
• Where: Oceanside IHOP, 2971 Long Beach Road
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Contact: Register at lmnoli.com or call Mark at (516) 993-0053
Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon; also March 28, April 1-April 2
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Wish You Were Here celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Pink Floyd’s album “Wish You Were Here,” acclaimed as “one of the greatest albums of all time,” and cited by Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour as their favorite album. The band delivers a critically-acclaimed, stunningly authentic and heartfelt tribute experience, faithfully and expertly reproducing Pink Floyd’s timeless musical soundscapes with entirely live music and vocals. Immerse yourself in this captivating journey through Pink Floyd’s musical catalog with this top-level act! Wish You Where Here continues its 30-year tradition of combining sight and sound to capture the mood, emotions, and intensity of the Floydian theatrical concert experience — in a spectacular tribute of music, performers, lighting, video, lasers and inflatables — performed live with no backing or click tracks. The band is arguably the longest continually-performing Pink Floyd tribute act with an unparalleled history of sold-out concerts, record-breaking festival events and celebrated theater productions. The show utilizes a veteran 10-piece musical ensemble featuring seven vocalists and a Floydian stage production — sound effects and vintage videos on a large circle screen, flying inflatables, theatrical vignettes with props, and a sensational light show with moving lasers, rolling fog and state-of-the-art intelligent lighting — all produced with a fan’s obsession for detail. The band authentically recreates the music from Pink Floyd’s entire career, performing the crowd favorites that all rock fans recognize, interspersed with the show-stoppers that appease even the most ardent Floyd fanatics.
The Baldwin Civic Association hosts its annual Spring Eggstravaganza & Bazaar featuring egg hunts, games, face painting, raffles, food and drinks, cotton candy and entertainment from local Baldwin talent. The event runs from 11 a.m. to noon exclusively for neurodivergent participants, with activities opening to the general public following.
• Where: 3232 Grand Ave.
• Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Contact: aldwinspringevent@ gmail.com
Baldwin Fire Department’s Hose Company One hosts an evening of live dueling pianos, featuring interactive performances. Guests can request songs and sing along to hits from every decade. Admission includes unlimited beer, wine and soda, light snacks and door prizes, with a 50/50 drawing. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. $50 per person; purchase online through ticketleap.com or through a Hose Company One member.
• Where: 2386 Grand Ave.
• Time: Doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m.
• Contact: hoseonebfd.org
The beloved orchestra springs forward with its next concert “The Rite of Spring.” The program includes Marquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending (Romance for Violin and Orchestra) and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
Families are invited to hop on over to Long Island Children’s Museum to welcome spring! Meet Peter Rabbit and Baby Chick costume characters, explore the museum to collect goodies, interact with live animals, and create themed craft activities. Celebrate the arrival of spring with a day of family fun!
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
Celebrate the season with a festive breakfast at the Coral House featuring the Easter Bunny. Families can enjoy a delicious buffet, take photos with the Easter Bunny and participate in face painting and balloon twisting. This family-friendly event is geared toward children ages 2–12. Reservations are required. $50.95, $33.95, children (2–12).
• Where: 70 Milburn Ave.
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: coralhouse.com or (516) 223-6500
Join author Ashley Olivia Nelson for an intimate afternoon conversation celebrating the release of “The Identity Reset: A Guide to Discovering Yourself After Loss, Change, and Survival.” It features a moderated conversation with a special guest (to be announced), a short reading by the author, and an audience Q&A exploring how people can move forward when life changes, and how to reconnect with themselves along the way. Attendees will leave
Oceanside Chorale welcomes new members
The Oceanside Chorale seeks new members in all sections to sing in their next concert.,“Going to the Movies, on June 7, at Fulton Avenue School. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings.
• Where: Fulton Avenue School, 3252 Fulton Ave.
• Time: Ongoing Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: Marie at: (516) 459-8513 or email oceansidechorale@gmail.com
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
Compiled by Herald Staff
Eleanor Furbush Farmingdale
The flowers and sun coming up, and every day being alive.
I really like it when the trees bloom and you’re driving down the streets with beautiful flowers around. And not having to shovel anymore snow!
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Lin Shao Oceanside
I’m most excited to feel warmer weather, longer days and everything starting to bloom again. I’m also excited that I won’t need to bundle up every time I go outside.
Abbey Salvemini/Herald photos
Caleb Kolanovic Lynbrook, age 9
I get to play baseball when it’s warmer and have fun at the park. And the birds are chirping.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
I am most looking forward to watching the children with their curious minds and eyes explore
and see our
APRIL 16 • 10AM-12:30PM
DEER PARK KNIGHTS
759 LONG ISLAND AVE, DEER PARK
FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers
Take advantage of on-site health screenings
Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
MAE CAIME FOUNDER, AMAEZING MIDLIFE & BEYOND
AGENDA:
+ Q&A RAFFLE DRAWINGS MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN
Register for this FREE event: Deerpark.eventbrite.com or email lcreem@LIHerald.com or call 516.569.4000 x243
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE LBCABANA SERIES IV
TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JAMES A. COLES A/K/A JAMES COLES, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 13, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 921 Ocean Street a/k/a 921 Ocean Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 394 and Lot 2450-2452. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,060,169.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 616171/2023.
Richard T. Kerins, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 224135-1 158682
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF
FORMATION of Freight Now Logistics LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/6/2026 Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 918 hayes St. Baldwin, NY 11510. Purpose: any lawful act. 158821
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PARTITION
ACTION
NASSAU COUNY
SUPREME COURT
PAUL I. MOORE, Plaintiff, against JANET D. WALLACE, Defendant. Index No.: 610628/2020
TO: ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES, who may claim as lienors and
other claimants for the address of 870 Edward Street, Baldwin, New York.
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action has been filed seeking a partition of property with the Index No. 610628/2020, in the Supreme Court of the State ofNew York, County ofNassau, on the following property: 870 Edward Street, Baldwin, New York, a/k/a Section 36, Block 173 & Lot 127 and that pursuant to a Stipulated Order of Reference entered December 17, 2025 by the Hon. Gary M. Carlton, J.S.C., all persons not a party to this action who have a lien upon any undivided share or interest in said property are required to appear before (or provide documentation to) the undersigned Referee at 11 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596, on or before May 6, 2026 at 3 pm, to prove their lien and the true amount due thereon. Known creditors will be served by mail at their last known address not less than twenty (20) days prior to the specified date.
Jaime D. Ezratty Esq., Referee
Haring Welikson Rosen & Digrugilliers, PC Address: 11 Hillside Ave, Williston Park, NY 11596 Tel: 516-535-1700 158977
LEGAL NOTICE
Please Take Notice that pursuant to the Order of the Hon. Gary M. Carlton, (Justice, Nassau County Supreme Court,) the property located at 3050 Ann Street, Baldwin, New York, Section 54, Block 432, Lot 124, and all the estate , right, title and interest of the parties to the action entitled, Edmire Saint Pierre v. Stuart Brewton, Index No. 617404/2022, whether present or future, vested or contingent, of dower, or otherwise, and the rights to which any other person might hereafter become entitled through them in the premises to be sold, in one parcel, at a public auction to be held on the 21st day of April 2026 at 2:00 p.m. on the North Side steps of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, by and under the direction of Brian J. Davis, Esq. the Referee
appointed for that purpose.
At such sale the Referee shall accept the highest bid offered by a responsible bidder, who shall be identified upon the court record, and shall require that such successful bidder immediately pay to the Referee in cash or certified or bank check payable to such Referee, ten (10%) percent of the sum bid and shall execute a Terms of Sale for the purchase of the premises, unless such successful bidder is a party hereto, in which case no deposit against the purchase price shall be required; and in the event that the first successful bidder fails to immediately pay the ten (10%) percent deposit as provided or fails to execute the Terms of Sale, immediately following the bidding upon the subject property, the Referee shall immediately, on the same day, reoffer the property at auction. Brian J. Davis, Referee 400 Garden City Plaza Suite 435 Garden City, NY 11530 (516)-542-0249 158927
LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CITIBANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE OF STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II INC., BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST II, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-1, Plaintiffagainst - MAURO A. TURCIOS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on May 27, 2025. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 21st day of April, 2026 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Baldwin, County of Nassau, and State of New York. Premises known as 1420 Grand Avenue,
North Baldwin, NY 11510.
(District: 10, Section: 36, Block: 230, Lot: 50)
Approximate amount of lien $1,101,764.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 615033/2019. Michael Joseph Sepe, Esq., Referee.
McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: February 23, 2026
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 158912
LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 7179
RESOLUTION NO. 256-2026
Adopted: March 10, 2026
Councilmember Ryder offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK AREA IN ; BALDWIN, BELLMORE, BETHPAGE, EAST MEADOW, ELMONT, FRANKLIN SQUARE, INWOOD, ISLAND PARK, LEVITTOWN, MERRICK, NORTH BALDWIN, NORTH BELLMORE, OCEANSIDE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, ROOSEVELT, SEAFORD, SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, UNIONDALE, WANTAGH, WEST HEMPSTEAD, WOODMERE IN THE TOWN OF
HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NY, ADOPTING PROPOSED ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE COST THEREOF. WHEREAS, an assessment roll has been prepared by this Town Board for and in connection with the reconstruction of sidewalk area on: AMBROSE CT, BABYLON TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY, CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR, COLONY ST, COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR
In the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK, which said roll was completed and filed in the office of the Town clerk of said Town on or about the 10th day of March 2026; and WHEREAS, due notice of the completion of said assessment roll and of the time and
place when and where this Board would meet to hear and consider any objection that might be made to said roll and for the purpose of reviewing, correcting and amending the same was duly given by the Town Clerk by publication of due notice thereof in the official newspaper of the Town of Hempstead and the Town Board duly met at the time and place specified and a hearing was duly had upon said assessment roll; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that such expense for the improvement be and it hereby is assessed as a whole pursuant to Section 200-a Article 12 of the Town Law as amended, upon each of the Lots and the parcels of land especially benefited by said improvement in just proportion to the amount of benefit which the improvement confers thereon in the amount listed opposite each such Lot or Parcel in the said assessment roll under the heading “BENEFITED” assessment against each such Lot or parcel of land especially benefited by the said improvement may be paid in five (5) or less annual installments and shall be payable at the time and the manner provided by law for the levy of State And County Taxes with interest not to exceed six percent (6%) of each such installment; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk be instructed to annex to said assessment roll a Warrant which shall be signed by the Supervisor and countersigned by the Town Clerk commanding the Receiver of Taxes to collect from the several persons named in said assessment roll the sum or sums opposite their respective names and to pay the same to the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. The foregoing resolution was adopted upon roll call as follows:
AYES: SEVEN (7) NOES: NONE (0) SIDEWALK AREA ASSESSMENT ROLL SIDEWALK AREA IMPROVEMENT ON: AMBROSE CT, BABYLON TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY,
CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR, COLONY ST, COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR In the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK.
* * * * * * * * * * * * WARRANT TO COLLECT ASSESSMENT TO:
JEANINE C. DRISCOLL, RECEIVER OF TAXES OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to collect from the persons named in the annexed Assessment Roll, the sum set opposite their respective names, as taxes or assessments, payable by them and to pay the sum to the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. The assessments in the annexed Assessment Roll may be paid in five (5) annual installments with interest thereon, if the benefit is in excess of $100.00 or may be paid in one (1) installment without fee
or penalty which shall not be less than thirty (30) nor more than one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of the warrant on or before the 7th day of September 2026 TOTAL ASSESSMENT: $148,883.11
DATED:
SUPERVISOR Of the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTERSIGNED: TOWN CLERK 159051
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSOR-ININTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I TRUST 2007-HE6, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-HE6, -againstRONDA ESI RICKETTS, AS ADMINISTRATRIX, HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESME RICKETTS A/K/A ESME ANN PATRICIA RICKETS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on January 28, 2026, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSOR-ININTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I TRUST 2007-HE6, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-HE6 is the Plaintiff and RONDA ESI RICKETTS, AS ADMINISTRATRIX, HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESME RICKETTS A/K/A ESME ANN PATRICIA RICKETS, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU
COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 23, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 726 DEAN DRIVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510; and the following tax map identification: 36-511-4.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT BALD VIN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 605433/2023.
Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 159065
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2006-8, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-8, -againstGLORIA C. FORTE
A/K/A GLORIA DEROCHE FORTE, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of
Nassau on February 18, 2025, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2006-8, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-8 is the Plaintiff and GLORIA C. FORTE A/K/A GLORIA DEROCHE FORTE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 23, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2316 HARRISON AVENUE, BALDWIN, NY 11510; and the following tax map identification: 54-101-48. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN BALDWIN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606489/2023. Brian J. Carmody, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 159067
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU MIDFIRST BANK, Plaintiff AGAINST STEPHANIE LLOYD, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 5, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 29, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 687 Joy Boulevard, North Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36 Block 216 Lot 259. Approximate amount of judgment $425,601.78 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613593/2024. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
Michael J. Sepe, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 177 5 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 24-002080 89330 159045
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff against YVONNE E. HENDERSON, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 15, 2026, I will sell at public auction to the
highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 983 Linkwood Drive, North Baldwin, NY 11510. Sec 36 Block 528 Lot 2. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $533,909.32 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 612266/2024. During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
John Fellin, Esq., Referee File # NY202400000103-1 159057
The Baldwin Union Free School District is proud to announce that for the fourth time in a row, Meghan Kargman has won “Best School Psychologist” in FourLeaf Federal Credit Union’s 2026 Best of Long Island competition.
FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, formerly Bethpage Credit Union, has been hosting the “Best of LI” contest for 20 years. The yearly competition stands as the largest contest of its kind on Long Island.
Neil Testa, principal of Baldwin High School, expressed how proud he was of Kargman’s four-time achievement, in a release sent to the Herald.
every student. As a member of the school’s pupil services team, she plays an essential role in promoting students’ social-emotional health, academic achievements, and behavioral growth.
“I see firsthand the difference Meghan makes every single day,” he wrote. “Her compassion, steady presence, and relentless commitment to both our students and our staff are extraordinary. We are thrilled to have the best!”
Kargman has dedicated the past 17 years to serving as a school psychologist at Baldwin High School, where she is committed to cultivating a positive and nurturing learning environment for
“It is an honor to receive this recognition for the fourth time,” Kargman wrote. “Helping young people navigate challenges and grow is the most rewarding part of my job. Supporting students’ social and emotional well-being is truly a team effort, and I’m grateful to work alongside such dedicated educators and families.”
Kargman provides counseling, conducts psychological evaluations, and formulates strategies to tackle learning and emotional challenges. She collaborates closely with families, teachers, and administrators to design individualized support that empowers students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, she serves as the primary psychologist for the high school’s Life Skills program and is a coach for the Challenger Basketball Team.
—Allyson Ferrari
Students across the Baldwin Union Free School District celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with festive crafts and hands-on activities. In Renee MacDermott’s class at Lenox Elementary School, students designed and built leprechaun traps in the cafeteria on March 17. Above, a student proudly displays his creation, hoping to catch a leprechaun — and maybe find a pot of gold by morning.
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Q. We just moved from the city, and found a notice on our door saying we have to get a permit for my parents to continue living with us. Neighbors were probably the ones who called the building department. My parents have always shared a house with us, in their own separate basement area with a kitchen, where they can come and go as they wish and spend time with their grandchildren, especially while we’re at work. We can’t just send my parents somewhere. What is the easiest way to get what we need?
A. You will need 1) the whole home measured, 2) floor plans drawn, 3) paperwork filed with a building department, 4) rejected for zoning reasons, 5) the application package forwarded to a separate zoning board, 6) wait your turn to get your documents reviewed before you get a zoning hearing, 7) given an appearance date, 8) attend a public hearing to see your case presented, 9) await a building plan review for the necessary safety and code requirements, 10) pay for the approved permit(s) to be issued, 11) get a contractor, plumber and electrician, and 12) arrange for plumbing, electric and final inspections to complete the process.
In some communities, the procedures can take well over a year. You will need patience and trust that you will eventually get to the end.
It’s admirable that you have a family that is appreciative enough to support one another’s needs, like watching the children and spending valuable time together. You might think this kind of extended family unit would be encouraged, but there are reasons it is scrutinized, including safety concerns, home values, parking and monitoring the number of people on a property. Although neighbors do not have authority to reject your living situation, if you are not respectful of everyone around you, including parking considerately, keeping the property neat and quiet, neighbors will complain.
Cooking fires are a leading cause of home casualties. Primary or second kitchens located in a basement are prohibited in nearly every community I have ever dealt with. I just saw that a father and son perished in a basement fire, coincidentally, in a home I wrote a safety report about within the past year. I commented on how the basement was a nonhabitable space, and yet someone cleaned it up, moved in, and now a father and child have died.
The fire chief said it is very difficult, almost impossible, to fight a basement fire, because flames are blasting up at you while you’re trying to get down and into the space. Basement walls can’t be cut to relieve the heat and smoke buildup.
You may think of a home as a place to live, and fortunately, or unfortunately, disasters have shaped strict rules made to prevent more disasters. Not having a basement kitchen can save lives. Your parents won’t be sent away, but you will need to start the process as outlined above. Good luck!
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ATTENTION OXYGEN
The recent series of terrorist attacks in Austin, Texas; on the East Side of Manhattan, outside Gracie Mansion; at a synagogue in Bloomfield, Mich.; and at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Va.; send the clear signal that federal, state and local law enforcement must be on full alert, especially for the duration of the conflict with Iran.
Threats and potential terror attacks could range from ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Iranian proxy Hezbollah to radically inspired lone wolves. Prior to the horrific Sept. 11 attacks, our nation’s counterterrorism efforts were basically uncoordinated, both here at home and overseas. The FBI and CIA, for instance, were effectively precluded by policy and design from sharing information and intelligence with each other. Similarly, the FBI often withheld information from local police departments, including the NYPD. There were also few adequately constructed lines of communication between the United States and overseas intelligence agencies regarding terror threats (Great Britain, Canada and Isra-
el being among the few exceptions).
President George W. Bush and the majority of both parties in Congress agreed on the absolute necessity to tear down existing walls and barriers, and to establish new structures to enhance cooperation and communication.
intrusion. NYPD officers were assigned to key overseas embassies to report back actionable intelligence on possible terrorist plans for action in New York.
The past few weeks have been very distressing for the few of us who have had any experience living in America when a real war took place. There is no doubt that we are not in the middle of a world war in Iran, but that conflict has all the earmarks of a happening that will trigger years of violence that could hit extremely close to our country.
I’m not an expert on military issues. I have no doubt that Iran is a major threat to the world, and every possible step should be taken to curb its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. I believe that Israel should be protected from a country that has pledged to wipe it off the map. But we must understand that there are consequences to these wars, and we should be aware of them. The problem is no one is telling us whether we should be concerned and why.
At the federal level, this was achieved by establishing the Department of Homeland Security, which incorporated 22 previously separate agencies into one coordinated entity. These bodies included the Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service. While the FBI and CIA remained independent, protocols were established to enable greater sharing of intelligence and information between them. As well, the Office of National Intelligence was created, and the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency were required to report to the director of national intelligence.
o
ur emphasis has shifted from terrorism to illegal immigration.
This caused some resentment among elements of the FBI and CIA, but proved successful. For example when Al Qaeda carried out a deadly attack in the Madrid train system, an NYPD officer was quickly on the scene, reporting procedures to be implemented in the New York City transit system that proved to be very effective. Overall, under Commissioner Ray Kelly, the NYPD had over a thousand officers assigned to counterterrorism and intelligence, resulting in more than 20 attempted attacks being prevented. Unfortunately progressive-minded elected officials assailed the NYPD’s efforts as “Islamophobic,” resulting in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s cutting back on the NYPD’s counterterrorism and intelligence operations. (Fortunately, much of its basic structure remains.)
2005 and 2006 — and again for another two-year term in 2011 and 2012. During both terms I focused on defending against Islamist terrorism — the main achievements being port and chemical plant security in my first term, and the investigation of radicalization of the Muslim community in my second term. Though key witnesses were Muslim, the radicalization hearings drew extensive media opposition but were successful.
Action was also initiated at the state and local levels. The NYPD was particularly innovative, creating intelligence and counterterrorism units that in many ways are comparable to the CIA and FBI. Sources were developed in neighborhoods reasonably believed to be subject to terrorist influence and
Following the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, Congress established a comparable committee to oversee it, similar to the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees monitoring the Defense and State departments. I was elected chairman of the committee in its first two years —
In recent years, funding for counterterrorism programs has been reduced. The emphasis of the DHS has shifted drastically from terrorism to illegal immigration. And elected officials like Mayor Mamdani are threatening to restrict police counterterror efforts. Most significantly, because of an unrelated dispute over ICE, congressional Democrats shut down the DHS at this time of maximum threat, when Islamists are using encrypted apps to circumvent our cybersecurity defenses. This is suicidal. The threat of Islamist terrorism cannot be relegated to the rearview mirror. It is a clear and present danger. Federal, state and local governments must face up to their responsibilities. (I am proud that Nassau and Suffolk are doing what has to be done.) We cannot risk another 9/11.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Iran isn’t just some crazy faraway country like Afghanistan, where a war took place that didn’t represent any kind of serious threat to America. During the American military involvement in that country, no one ever stopped me on the street to express fears about the “Afghanistan war.” Even though we deployed thousands of our troops in that country, there was no concern on the part of our government that it could spill over into our country.
Ehad gone through training programs that prepared it for such an event. The war has stirred up further incidents of antisemitism.
ven if it ends with some kind of settlement, there will be other consequences.
In the case of Iran, we are dealing with a bunch of idealogues who are not capable of being fully contained. History shows us that Iran enters into peace agreements and breaks its word almost immediately. Even If this current war ends on some type of settlement, there are other consequences that our nation should be aware of. What are they?
In the past month, there have been two incidents involving people who were true believers. In one, a man drove a truck into a Michigan synagogue in an effort to kill Jews. Luckily, that temple
The proof that the Iran incursion isn’t a faraway event is what we have been experiencing at the gas pump. When you pick a fight in the Middle East, lots of things happen. The war is having worldwide consequences. As energy costs go up, prices on all types of goods go up. No one is telling us what the long-range plan is to blunt price increases.
There are not too many people around now who can talk about what it’s like to live in our country when there was a real war. As an 8-yearold boy, I experienced what happens when a country is at war. We had blackout shades in our house to protect us in the event of an air raid. Food was rationed and our neighbors became wardens in the event that faraway battle reached us in some way. Luckily, we had President Franklin Roosevelt to assure us that all would be well.
The war in Iran is far away from our country, and there won’t be any air raid sirens. But we have a lot to be concerned about because of the events now taking place thousands of miles from this nation. We are dealing with a different type of enemy and must be aware of that. The zealots who embrace Iran can be found anywhere.
There is no reason for us to start hiding in our homes, nor to curtail our daily activities. But we have to be aware of what is going on on this planet and get the comfort that we deserve. We should question our representatives in Washington on what steps are being taken to keep us away from harm. It would help heal the divide over this new war. There is no politics to this story. Our leaders, whether Clinton, Bush, Obama or Trump, must tell us what they want our wars to accomplish and what steps they are going to take to limit our pain. That’s not asking too much.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
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Copyright
fter months of bundling up, shoveling out and watching gray skies linger over Long Island, the arrival of spring offers something more than a change in temperature — it signals a long-awaited reset.
The return of the Major League Baseball season is as reliable a marker as any: fresh grass, open stadiums and the simple joy of being outside again.
But spring’s promise goes well beyond symbolism. It offers a tangible opportunity to improve both physical and mental well-being in ways that winter simply does not allow.
The act of stepping outside — whether for a short walk, a bike ride or an afternoon at the park — can have an immediate and lasting impact. Sunlight helps regulate sleep cycles and boosts vitamin D levels, which are often depleted during the darker months. Fresh air, even in small doses, can sharpen focus, reduce stress and improve mood.
There is also something quietly restorative about reconnecting with the rhythms of the natural world. The budding of trees, the return of birds and the gradual greening of lawns and fields serve as reminders that change, even after the harshest stretches, is inevitable. After a winter defined by confinement, that sense of renewal
To the Editor:
The editorial “Sunshine week keeps democracy in the light” (March 5-11) was just what our struggling democracy needs — a timely reminder of the importance of open government.
We should all remember that in some parts of the world, governments routinely operate behind closed doors and keep their citizens in the dark about what takes place there. But not here in America, despite the efforts of some in power to block transparency.
A few months from now, when we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we will also mark the 60th anniversary of another landmark moment: the signing of the Freedom of Information Act. On July 4, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the act into law at his ranch in Texas. As a result of this legislation, Americans can now access many government records — at federal, state and local levels — that were once unavailable to
feels especially meaningful. Long Island is uniquely suited to take advantage of this seasonal shift. From local neighborhood parks to expansive destinations such as Grant Park in Hewlett, Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa and Tanner Park in Copiague, there is no shortage of places to stretch your legs and spend time outdoors. Walking paths, ball fields, playgrounds and open green spaces are not just amenities; they are essential parts of community life that come alive again in the spring.
For families, the change in season is an opportunity to reset routines that may have grown stagnant during the colder months. Screen time can give way to outdoor play. Weekends can shift from indoor errands to shared experiences such as picnic, a pickup game or simply time spent exploring a new trail. These moments, often simple and unplanned, are the ones that tend to linger.
For individuals, the benefits are just as significant. Even a brief daily walk can serve as a mental reset, a chance to step away from the demands of work and the constant pull of screens. Outdoor activity has been linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression, improved cardiovascular health and
increased overall energy. And unlike many wellness trends, it requires no special equipment or expense — just the willingness to step outside.
There is also a social dimension to spring that should not be overlooked. As temperatures rise, communities begin to reawaken. Youth sports leagues resume, neighbors linger a little longer in conversation, and public spaces once again become gathering places. After months of isolation, these interactions help rebuild a sense of connection that winter often erodes.
Not just a season, spring is an invitation. It encourages people to be more present, more active and more engaged with their surroundings. It asks us to take advantage of longer days and milder weather, to trade routine for spontaneity and to rediscover the simple pleasure of being outside.
The message, then, is straightforward: step outside. Make plans, but leave room for the unplanned. Visit a park you haven’t been to in years. Take a walk after dinner. Sit on a bench and watch a game, or better yet, join one. These small choices add up, shaping not just how we experience the season, but how we feel within it.
After a long winter, the urge to stay inside may still remain. But the better instinct — the healthier one — is to go outside.
paying off your mortgage is truly a cause for celebration.
In Nassau County, however, that milestone comes with a hefty price tag, and it simply should not be that way.
Recently, one of my constituents walked into the county clerk’s office to file a Satisfaction of Mortgage document, and certify that the home equity loan on his Oceanside home had been paid in full. It was something that he and his family had been working toward since 1985.
The form is just two pages long, so the amount of labor required to enter it into the system should be minimal. Imagine his shock when he was told this simple ministerial task would cost him over $620. Specifically, it cost him $350.50 to file the document, and another $270 for a “tax map verification fee.”
Those aren’t service fees. They’re hidden taxes — and they are money
them.
Ironically, President Johnson wasn’t a huge fan of FOIA. In a 2005 speech recalling the circumstances leading to the legislation’s becoming law, Bill Moyers, who was Johnson’s press secretary in the 1960s, noted that Johnson had at first resisted signing it.
“He hated the thought of journalists rummaging in government closets and opening government files,” Moyers said in 2005. “He hated them challenging the official view of reality.”
Nevertheless, Johnson signed the bill, largely due to pressure from the press, which supported FOIA, and Congress, which had overwhelmingly supported the legislation. It was an especially sweet victory for John Moss, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives who’d spent 12 years lobbying for greater access to government agency records, and Donald Rumsfeld, a Republican member of the House at the time who supported Moss in the effort.
But the real winners were the American people. It was a victory for democracy, a genuine “We the People” moment. Remember FOIA on July Fourth.
grabs that the courts have deemed to be unlawful because they have no correlation to the services being provided.
The $350.50 filing charge includes a $300 “block fee” that Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Gregg Roth ruled excessive and unconstitutional on June 9, 2025. He ordered the county to correct this within 60 days. Despite the court order, the fee remains in place, and homeowners are still being unlawfully overcharged.
FThat’s why, on Feb. 18, I filed two pieces of legislation to correct this injustice. The first would bring Nassau County into compliance with the law by slashing the $350.50 filing cost to $50, creating parity with neighboring counties that charge between $50 and $60 for the same service. The second bill would cut the $270 tax map verification fee to $50, significantly reducing the impact of a fee that only Nassau and Suffolk counties charge in our region.
cept that County Clerk Maureen O’Connell — the elected official who has the most direct knowledge of this issue — has previously supported.
iling fees that include ‘block fees’? ‘Tax map verification fees’? Enough!
O’Connell has appeared before and written to the Legislature to oppose the excessive clerk filing fees, and correctly decried them as an undue fiscal burden on Nassau residents. In a 2017 Newsday interview, she called the attempt by the administration of then County Executive Ed Mangano to raise those fees to even more exorbitant heights “outrageous, punitive” and “immoral” and specifically questioned their legality. Mangano’s attempt was ultimately abandoned, but her point still stands.
most expensive places in America to live, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is spiraling further out of control. While President Trump’s tariffs continue to increase prices on everyday essentials and his war in Iran is causing major spikes in gasoline and fuel costs, local government has a responsibility to do all it can to ease the financial burdens our residents face.
Cutting these outrageous fees would be an important first step. Moreover, it would provide a secondary benefit to all taxpayers by putting an immediate end to the spending of millions of dollars by the administration of County Executive Bruce Blakeman on outside counsel to defend and preserve these unjust, harmful fees.
I’m grateful that my common-sense legislative package has the enthusiastic backing of the entire Democratic legislative delegation. Moreover, it’s a con-
For far too long, Republican officials have used fee increase gimmicks to prop up their budgets and create illusions of fiscal stability. These backdoor taxes are most harmful to the working- and middle-class families who are the foundation of our county and can least afford to absorb these costs — especially now.
Nassau County is already one of the
My Democratic colleagues and I have provided the solution. All that is needed now is the will to act. I urge the Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, and his Republican majority to bring these items before us so we can swiftly pass a legislative package that will deliver immediate relief to Nassau County property owners.
Debra Mulé, of Freeport, represents Nassau County’s 6th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s alternate deputy minority leader.
